Movement is vital for the healthy growth and development of your baby. Most of baby’s movements at this stage are reflexes like sucking, grasping and rooting.
Help develop movement skills
You are your baby’s best toy! You can help develop movement skills during the first few months by playing with your baby. Try activities such as playing peek-a-boo, massage, holding, rocking and carrying your child in different positions. Limit the time your baby spends in restrictive places like car seats and bouncy chairs.
- Provide supervised “tummy time” and side-lying play several times during the day. An easy way to make sure that your baby is getting frequent tummy time is to put your baby on his or her tummy after every diaper change.
- Use toys designed for tummy and side-lying play, such as mirrors and brightly colored or musical toys.
- Make sure that your baby is not always looking in the same direction. Use visually stimulating toys or the sound of your voice to encourage your baby to look to either side. Offer toys from different directions.
- Alternate the arm you use to carry your baby.
- Offer your baby both breasts at each feeding. If your baby is having difficulty breastfeeding on one side, this may be an indication of neck muscle tightness and you should contact your doctor or public health nurse. If bottle feeding, alternate the arm you use to feed your baby.
- Limit the amount of time that your baby spends in car seats, bouncy seats, or swings, particularly before three months of age. If you are using any of these items often, try to position your baby’s head so it is not tipped or turned to one side. When your baby is awake, use rolled up towels to help you do this.
Check with your doctor or public health nurse if you notice:
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Your baby is always looking in one direction or his or her head is tipped to one side
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Ongoing difficulty breastfeeding on one side
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Difficulty positioning your baby’s head to one side
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A big change in your baby’s head shape
See the section, “Your Baby’s Head” earlier in this class for more information on preventing plagiocephaly, a flat section on baby’s head.
Skin to skin cuddling
Birth may be an overwhelming experience for the entire family. Skin to skin cuddling, also known as kangaroo mother care, is the best way to transition your newborn from the womb into this new world. Skin-to-skin keeps your baby at the right temperature, helps with breastfeeding, and calms your baby.
Skin to skin cuddling can happen between a baby and mother or father. The baby lies on his or her stomach with their head on your bare chest. A blanket is wrapped around the baby’s body and under your arms.
Skin-to-skin for every baby
Every infant should be given the opportunity for skin to skin cuddling, whether they are being fed from the breast or the bottle.
Cuddling has many benefits
The benefits of skin to skin cuddling are seen right after birth, when mother and baby are reunited after a separation. The benefits are also seen any time mother and baby need to reassure each other.
Skin to skin cuddling has benefits for both baby and mother. Your body is aware of your baby’s body temperature. If your baby is too cool, your body temperature will rise two degrees to warm your baby. If your baby is too warm, your body temperature will lower one degree to help your baby cool.
With your baby’s head on your chest, he or she can hear the familiar heartbeat from the past nine months (or less). Your baby can smell and taste you. This will reduce stress in you and your baby. When babies are relaxed, they are able to cue for feeding. Skin to skin cuddling is an excellent tool to help babies begin to initiate feeding behaviors that tell you it is time to feed your baby. Babies calm down when they are skin to skin on their parents’ chest.
Skin to skin cuddling increases both prolactin and oxytocin levels in the mother. Prolactin is the hormone that produces breastmilk. Oxytocin is a hormone that helps bond a mother and her baby and allows the colostrum and breastmilk to eject.